Cuff link and bracelet assembly



.My 14, 1970 c. w. CHA'NCELLOR. JR 3,520,001

' CUFF LINK AND BRACELET ASSEMBLY Filed June 6, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Charles W. Chancel/or, Jr.

INVENTOR.

July' 1970 'c. w. CHANCELLOR, 'JR 0 CUFF LINK AND BRACELET ASSEMBLY Filed June a, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 2.

Fig 4 Charles n. Chancel/or, Jr.

INVENTOR.

Y 2mm WM mm 'July 14,1970 c. w. CHANCELLOR, JR

cum LINK AND BRACELET ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6, 1967 Char/es W. Chance/Ian Jr.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,520,001 CUFF LINK AND BRACELET ASSEMBLY Charles W. Chancellor, Jr., Midland, Tex., assignor to Chancellor Chair Company, a corporation of Texas Filed June 6, 1967, Ser. No. 643,919 Int. Cl. A41b 7/00 U.S. Cl. 2-123 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined cuff link and bracelet assembly for association with the cuff of a sleeve on a shirt, blouse or the like which serves the utilitarian purpose of retaining the cuff of the shirt, blouse or the like in embracing relation to the wrist area of the wearer and at the same time provides a bracelet in the form of an article of jewelry which may be constructed of various materials to provide various ornamental and decorative arrangements.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cuff link and bracelet assembly including an annular member engaged with the external surface of the cuff region of a sleeve on a shirt, blouse or the like together with a device to secure the ends of the ring or band together for retaining the bracelet in position.

One object of the present invention is to provide a bracelet constructed with tabs or end portions for receiving a connecting structure in the form of cuff links which may or may not extend through a portion of the cuff or wrist encircling area of a garment sleeve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cuff link and bracelet assembly in which the bracelet assembly includes means for anchoring the bracelet to the external surface of the cuff region of the sleeve which includes a structure in which a portion of the bracelet is anchored to the garment sleeve by extending through loops provided on the sleeve.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interengagement between the bracelet and sleeve by providing a projection on the bracelet penetrating the sleeve.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an interengagement between the bracelet and sleeve by providing peripheral enlargements or ribs on the cuff portion of the sleeve for forming a peripheral recess receiving the bracelet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an interengagement between the bracelet and sleeve by providing an attachable loop-forming strap on the exterior of the cuff of the sleeve to secure the bracelet in position thereon with the cuff link assembly either engaging the conventionally provided apertures in a sleeve of the French cuff type or merely serving to interconnect the ends of the bracelet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cuff link and bracelet assembly which is simple in construction, easy to use, effective for its particular purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention illustrated in use in combination with the cuff of a blouse sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1

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illustrating the structural relationship between the sleeve cuff, bracelet and interconnecting cuff link assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracelet and cuff link assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cuff link and bracelet assembly illustrated in combination with a French cuff on a mans shirt sleeve.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 4 illustrating the relationship of the sleeve cuff, bracelet and cuff link;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cuff illustrating the anchor loop in partially detached position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cuff link and bracelet assembly illustrating another type of anchor structure for the bracelet;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 7 illustrating the relationship of the bracelet retaining strap, the bracelet and the shirt cuff;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bracelet and cuff link assembly;

FIG. 10 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 1010 of FIG. 9 illustrating the structural details thereof;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in which the cuff is provided with peripheral enlargement or projections;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 12-12 of FIG. 11 illustrating further structural details of this embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 1313 of FIG. 12 illustrating the relationship of the bracelet to the cuff construction.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the reference numeral 20 generally designates one embodiment of the bracelet and cuff link assembly which constitutes the present invention and this embodiment of the invention is illustrated in combination with the cuff 22 on the sleeve 24 of a blouse in which the cuff 22 encircles the wrist area 26 of the wearer in a conventional manner. In this construction, the cuff 22 is conventional and may be provided with suitable decorative ornamentation such as lace-work 28 or the like.

The bracelet and cuff link assembly 20 includes a split annular band generally designated by the numeral 30 which is oval-shaped in configuration and includes two substantially identical halves 32 and 34 which are interconnected at their upper ends by a hinge structure 36 of conventional construction to enable the two halves or sections 32 and 34 to pivot in relation to each other about a hinge pin 38. The opposite ends of the halves or sections 32 and 34 having outwardly projecting tabs 40 and 42 which are disposed in adjacent parallel relation when assembled as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tab 40 is provided with a fastener element in the form of a male snap fastener element 44 while the tab 42 is provided with a fastener element in the form of a female snap fastener element 46 whereby the snap fastener elements 44 and 46 will serve to detachably retain the tabs 40 and 42 in their adjacent position as illustrated in FIG. 2 with the bracelet or annular member 30 encircling and engaging the cuff 22. Upon outward pressure being exerted on the inner surfaces of the tabs 40 and 42, the fastener elements 44 and 46 will be disconnected and the sections 32 and 34 pivoted outwardly away from each other and away from the cuff 22 by pivoting movement about the hinge pin 38. To facilitate application of laterally outward forces on the tabs 40 and 42, the free ends thereof may have tapered corner surfaces as at 48 to facilitate insertion of a finger or thumb between the end portions of the tabs 40 and 42 in order to detach the male connector fastener 44 from the female fastener connector 46.

To anchor the bracelet and cuff link assembly 20 to the cuff 22, one of the sections 32 or 34, as illustrated, section 34, is provided with an inwardly extending pointed pin 50 which penetrates the cuff 22 and is provided with a retaining cap 52 on the inner end thereof. The retaining cap 52 is either frictionally engaged with the pointed member 50 or screwthreaded thereon as desired and the cap 52 is provided with a rounded ball-type inner end 54 to prevent injury or uncomfortable engagement with the surface of the wrist 26. The over-all length and shape characteristics of the cap 52 may be varied as may the length of the pointed pin or projection 50. The pin or projection 50 may be integral with or attached to the inner surface of the section 34 in any suitable manner. This arrangement eliminates longitudinal movement of the bracelet and cuff link assembly 20 on the cuff 22 thus retaining the device in position.

As illustrated, the cuff 22 is conventional and may be a conventional barrel-type cuff with overlapping connected ends or the edges or ends thereof may be free or provided with aligned apertures in the form of a French cuff with the fastener elements 44 and 46 adapted to extend through such aligned openings. The material from which the bracelet and cuff link assembly is constructed may vary depending upon the appearance characteristics desired and also, a plurality of holders 56 may be provided on the external surface of the bracelet 30 for supporting jewels or stones 58 which may be precious, semi-precious, glass or of any suitable configuration and material depending upon the decorative effects desired. Also, the annular bracelet 30 may be of one solid piece or a plurality of annular members depending upon the decorative arrangement desired with it only being necessary that the over-all construction include an annular member having the two sections hingedly connected and the free ends interconnected either independent of the cuff or by extending through aligned holes in a French cuff.

The combined bracelet and cuff link assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 is generally designated by the numeral 60 and is associated with the cuff 62 on a shirt sleeve 64 such as that worn by a man with the cuff 62 encircling the wrist area 66 in a conventional manner. In this construction, the bracelet and cuff link assembly is in the form of an annular member generally designated by numeral 68 including a pair of sections 70 and 72 which are hingedly interconnected by a hinge assembly 74 and provided with generally parallel free end portions 76 and 78 which lie alongside of the free edges 80 of the cuff 62. The free edges 80 have alignable apertures 82 therein which are aligned with apertures 84 in the end portions 76 and 78 of the sections 70 and 72 for receiving a conventional cuff link 86 having the usual pivotal cross bar 88 at one end thereof and a decorative element 90 at the other end thereof. Thus, with this construction when the annular member 68 is secured to the cuff 62, the cuff link 86 will anchor the end portions thereof to the cuff 62 and also secure the cuff 62 in encircling relation to the wrist 66. In order to secure the upper portion of the annular member 68 longitudinally on the exterior surface of the cuff 62, an anchor strap or loop member 92 is provided and is in the form of a strap which extends across the annular member 68 and has the ends thereof attached to the outer and inner edges of the cuff 62 respectively by fasteners 94 such as buttons which are received in buttonholes 96 in the ends of the strap 92 respectively as illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, by detaching either end of the strap 92, the bracelet and cuff link as sembly 60 may be inserted under the strap 92 or removed therefrom with both ends of the strap 90 being secured in place by the buttons 94 during normal wearing of the bracelet and cuff link assembly.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of anchor structure for a similar type of bracelet and cuff link assembly generally designated by 100 and which includes a small chain 102 having the end links thereof attached to end anchors 104 and 106 respectively each of which have a pointed shank 108 which penetrates through the shirt cuff 110. A retaining cap 112 is provided for each shank 108 which secures the anchors 104 to the cuff 110. As illustrated, the cuff is of conventional construction and may be a French cuff or barrel cuff or a convertible type cuff in which the cuff is provided with aligned openings such as openings 82. In each embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-8, the annular member 68 may be of any suitable material either rigid or partially flexible and may be provided with any suitable external ornamentation such as designated by numeral 114 which may be either masculine or feminine in appearance depending upon the desires of the wearer. Also, conventional cuff links may be employed or special cuff links compatible with the ornamental characteristics of the annular bracelet 68 may be employed and various types of cuff links may be employed, that is, those having various anchor constructions other than the conventional pivot bar 88 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein is generally designated by the numeral and includes an annular member 122 comprised by sections 124 and 126 which are hingedly connected by a hinge structure 128 at the upper ends thereof and interconnected at their lower ends by a cuff link structure 130 equivalent to the structure defined in detail in connection with FIGS. 4-8. In this embodiment of the invention, the cuff 132 on the shirt sleeve or blouse sleeve 134 is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced loops 136 which may best be formed by cutting parallel slits 138 in pairs in the outer layer of a multilayer cuff thus providing interlocking engagement between the annular member 122 and the cuff 132 to prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween in addition to the movement prevented by the cuff link 120 extending through the aligned holes in the annular member 122 and in the cuff 132. This'type of construction enables the bracelet to be compatible with or contrast with the color of the fabric from which the bracelet is constructed thus rendering the cuff and bracelet and cuff link assembly ornamental and decorative in appearance.

The embodiment of the bracelet and cuff link assembly illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 is generally designated by reference numeral 120. In this construction, the annular band generally designated by numeral 142 includes two sections 144 and 146 hingedly interconnected by a conventional hinge 148 with the free ends thereof detachably interconnected by a cuff link 150 extending through aligned holes 152 in laterally extending tabs 154. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the annular member 142 has a flat inner surface and a rounded or semi-oval outer surface provided with any suitable decorative ornamentation. The annular member 142 is relatively narrow in construction and is received between the ends of a cuff 156 on the sleeve 158 of a blouse or the like which is disposed in encircling relation to the wrist 160 of a wearer. The cufif 150 is attached to the sleeve 158 at longitudinally spaced points 162 and 164 which are spaced longitudinally apart a distance less than the over-all length of the cuff 156 so that the central portion of the cuff 156 will normally be spaced from the sleeve 158. When the annular ring 142 is placed centrally on the cuff 156, the central portion 166 thereof will be disposed against the sleeve while the two end portions 168 and 170 will be disposed laterally beyond the outer periphery of the annular member 142 thus forming a pcripheral groove or recess receiving the annular member 142 thus retaining the bracelet or annular member 142 intermediate the ends of the cuff 156. Thus, in this form of the invention, the combined bracelet and cuff assembly 140 is not positively connected to the cuff but is interengaged therewith by deforming a central portion of the cuff inwardly while the end portions of the cuff are disposed laterally outwardly of a periphery of the bracelet thus securing the bracelet and cuff link assembly in position on the cuff and at the same time providing a highly decorative and ornamental appearance for the cuff area of a blouse, shirt or the like. While this embodiment of the invention has been illustrated with a continuous cuff 156, a cuff having the same structural characteristics as illustrated in FIGS. 11-13 may also be employed as may a conventional barrel or French-type of cuff, with the recess defined therein serving to retain the bracelet and cuff link assembly in position in relation to the cuff and sleeve.

In the various embodiments of the invention, the materials employed may be metal of any dimension, shape and configuration as desired with any suitable ornamentation thereon. Other materials may be used such as plastic, leather or combinations of various materialslaminated together or otherwise secured together in any suitable manner employed in items of this nature.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combined bracelet and cuff link assembly comprising a split annular member adapted to encircle the wrist area of a wearer, a split cuff of a garment sleeve disposed between the annular member and the wrist area of a wearer, said split annular member having end portions disposed in spaced relation extending outwardly from the annular member and wrist area of the wearer in alignment with the split in the cuff, means interconnecting the end portions of the annular member for enabling assembly and disassembly thereof in relation to the wrist area of a wearer, and means independent of the interconnecting means cooperatively associated between the annular member and the cuff of the sleeve for retaining the annular member in encircling relation thereto and preventing longitudinal movement therebetween.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means cooperatively associated between the annular member and the cuff of the garment sleeve includes a projecting pointed element on the inner surface of the annular member and projecting through the cuff, and a retaining cap on the projecting pointed member for anchoring the annular member to the cuff.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means cooperatively associated between the annular member and the cuff includes an anchor strap having ends detachably connected to said cuff, the intermediate portion of said strap being free of the cuff and receiving the annular member thereunder.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said strap includes buttonholes at each end thereof, a pair of buttons on said cuff for removably connecting the ends of the strap to the cuff.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said strap is in the form of a flexible chain, and anchor elements on each end of the chain, said anchor elements being in the form of a pointed prong inserted through the cuff, and anchor caps on the inner end of each of said prongs.

6. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means cooperatively associated between the cuff and the annular member includes a plurality of loops formed in the cuff, said loops being defined by spaced parallel slits formed in the cuff with the annular member inserted under said loops.

7. In combination, a garment sleeve, a longitudinally split cuff at the end of the sleeve for positioning around the wrist area of a wearer, a bracelet in the form of a split annular member encircling the cuff with the split in the annular member coinciding with the split in the cuff, and fastening means interconnecting the end portions of the split annular member and extending through the edge portions of the split cuff for securing the end portions of the annular member together, retaining the edges of the split cuff together and retaining the annular member in encircling relation to the cuff.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said split annular member includes a pair of substantially identical sections, means hingedly interconnecting the end portions of said sections remote from the split in the annular member and the split in the cuff.

9. The combination as defined in claim 7 together with an anchor strap extending longitudinally of the cuff with the ends of the strap being detachably connected to the cuff, the intermediate portion of said anchor strap being free of the cuff and overlying said annular member in circumferentially spaced relation to the split therein.

10. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said cuff includes a plurality of loops formed therein, said loops being defined by spaced parallel slits formed in the cuff with the annular member inserted under said loops.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1880 Kursh 63-7 1/1882 Guignon 2 124 9/1894 Hoffman 2415 11/1961 Frey 2270 FOREIGN PATENTS 1878 Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R. 

